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Job Description for Software Development Leader

Software development leaders are management-level workers that shepherd programs, applications, and updates through the programming and/or updating process. These leaders work with other teams - such as design and quality assurance - to ensure that the program or application works as intended and is completed in a timely manner. The software development leader typically creates schedules for their team and assigns team members work based on design and development templates that are conceptualized by their department in conjunction with other relevant personnel.

These professionals also establish timeframe estimates and deadlines for work completion, continually monitor their team's progress toward those goals, and create working alpha and beta builds for applications, which are then typically put through a quality assurance phase. The software development leader evaluates quality assurance reports and then works with the development team to address all issues found in that process. Many companies allow the software development leader to have input, if not control, over hiring decisions, and the development leader must be capable of estimating a development budget based on time and labor involved. Leaders are held accountable for these budgets and must constantly monitor them.

Companies typically prefer to hire software development leaders from existing employees who already possess a great deal of practical experience in programming with design or development teams. In some cases, with larger, high-profile companies, an applicant for this job may be asked to show a portfolio of applications and programs already shipped. Software companies also typically prefer individuals for this job who possess at least a bachelor’s degree in computer science or another relevant discipline.

Software Development Leader Tasks

Collaborate with team members to identify strengths and weaknesses of applications and improve upon them.

Evaluate functionality of products and remediate any lapse in functionality.

Lead a team in the development, coding, and delivery of new software products and applications.

Perform product and customer research and develop improvement strategies based on findings.